WiseAcre Gardens

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Inula helenium – Elecampane

Although not uncommon Elecampane isn’t as easy to find as other wildflowers I’ve posted in the past. But it is easy to spot since it grows up to 8 feet tall and has large, up to 4 inch yellow flowers and grows in open meadows and some roadside ditches.  The leaves are also large and fuzzy on the underside.

My Peterson Field Guide to Edible Plants states that Elecampane is used as a flavoring for candy but doesn’t give a clue on how it tastes or how to make any. Thanks but no thanks. I think I’ll stick to my favorite – Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Elecampane root tea is a folk remedy for a number of ailments including pneumonia, whooping cough, asthma and bronchitis. Moving to the digestive system the tea is used for upset stomach, diarthea and worms. From what I’ve read it was much safer than the old treatment of using santonin to expel worms which could kill you.

Another herbal use is to use as a wash to treat facial neuralgia (pain in the face) and sciatica (pain in the arse or lower back)

So I guess you can get rid of that pain in the arse by giving me a nice cup of elecampane tea.

Once again I’ve linked the images to a larger size one (1024 x 768) for a closer look and to use as desktop wallpaper / background.

It was a surprise to me that the white flowers which made me pull over to the side of the road were Asters. When it comes to Asters my mind visualizes purple flowers not white. So I shot them first and sorted things out later.

These are one of the first Asters to bloom. They are supposed to like moist / wet ground and my field guide states they grow in wet meadows but the place I first spotted them where high and dry. I guess they’re not so fussy as to care where they grow.

The name is a good description. The flowers are white and the flower clusters are ‘flat topped”. The photo shows a smaller cluster than others I saw but it was the best macro I managed to capture.

Another desktop wallpaper / background. Click the image to open a 1024 x 768 size version suitable to use on your computer. Right click the full size image to open a menu to allow you to set it as your background.

BTW: If you see any photo on my blog you would like to use as a background let me know and I’ll make up one to any size you need.

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Pale Touch-Me-Not  Impatiens pallida

I’m used to seeing the orange  Spotted Jewelweed growing everywhere I look around home but never ran across the yellow Pale Jewelweed in the north country. It took a 200+ mile trip downstate for me to find the yellow.

I had a hard time believing the size of the plants I found at the old Shaker Settlement in New Lebanon, New York. They were easily 8 feet tall and towered over me. The Pale Jewelweed was common all through the area bordering the NY – Mass state line.

I was especially happy since only a few days earlier I caught a Spotted Jewelweed of  exceptional beauty at home. Now I have the full set

While my field guides state Jewelweed grows in wet shady areas they are not uncommon to find in sunny spots that remain wet. While those in sun don’t reach the size of the ones found in shade I noticed they too seem to grow larger than stated.

A cross?

While the Spotted Jewelweed had a more orange look this one is more yellow. The spur on the back of the flower is longer like the Spotted Jewelweed and the marking are also similar.

My guess is that nature is playing. There is so much variety amoung even the same species that I’ll never know or really care. I’m just along for the ride and take pleasure watching the show.

I’m looking forward to the last act. I can’t wait to go poking the seed pods when they’re ready to pop.

Touch-Me-Not – yea right!

Besides I know from experience Jewelweed is great for relieving the itch caused by poison ivy.